The AT in the Smokies

The most hiked section of the Appalachian Trail

The southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains, with its temperate climate, slow changes in elevation and lush greenery, is a haven to hikers from around the world. People flock to the Smokies especially to spend time on any number of trails, but the trail that is most popular and the one that a lot of people want to tackle part of is the Appalachian Trail. One end of the AT starts in the Smokies, in northern Georgia. From that point you can work your way north to the heart of the Smokies in North Carolina and Tennessee, passing through state parks and national parks along the way. It is a gradual climb that will inspire both awe and a renewed sense of respect for the mountain folk and Native Americans that hiked these trails season after season in the time before their were European style cities in the area.

North Georgia

In North Georgia, you will start at Springer Mountain, one of the southern most areas of the Smokies. Technically you are in the foothills of the Smokies at this point. The gentle slopes, the gradual climb, the verdant landscapes will help to build your anticipation as you progress north. In this area, you will pass near towns and civilization. The hike takes you near several state parks with facilities that are open almost year round, depending on the weather. The North Georgia part of the AT is some of the easiest hiking that the trail has to offer. Even if you start here when it is late spring you will find that the elevation is not high enough to give you the extremely cold temps that you will encounter in the highest elevations.

Fontana Dam

One of the next high points on the trail that you will come across is Fontana Dam. At this point on the AT you have made your way into North Carolina, your second state if you are heading north from Georgia. Fontana Lake is one of those TVA created lakes that took in the small towns of Judson and Proctor (near present day Bryson City) when Fontana Dam was established in the early part of the 20th century. As the trail winds around Fontana Dam, you are going to start to gain some serious altitude. The elevation change will start to reveal a change in the wildlife and the flora around you. Just north of Fontana Lake and Dam, yes you follow the dam as you start up the mountain, you will climb until you are walking the ridge of the Great Smoky Mountains in the GSMNP. You are also walking the Tennessee / North Carolina line at this point on the trail.

Clingman’s Dome and Newfound Gap Road

The top of the world in the Smokies is Clingman’s Dome. You will go all the way to the top of this part of the mountain as you progress northward on the AT. The climb to Clingman’s Dome will take some time even for the most seasoned of hikers but the breath taking views from these peaks are like no other you will find east of the Mississippi River. As you reach the summit of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you will immediately start back down again. Soon you will arrive at the most visited portion of the GSMNP, the piece of the Appalachian Trail that starts at the Newfound Gap parking area and trailhead. From this point you can hike almost 2 miles of the AT, the most hiked portion of the 2,200 mile trail.

Roan Mountain State Park

If you were to hike from the Newfound Gap trailhead and continue northward the next focal point you are going to come to is Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee. If you happen to plan your hike through accordingly you can spend some time at the top of the mountain in the rhododendron garden while it is in bloom. Bring a camera and prepare to take a lot of pictures. With the Catawbas in bloom it is a pink and purple wonderland of color. Roan Mountain also has lots of facilities that a Thru-Hiker might need to take advantage of like campgrounds and other amenities.

Hike the various pieces of the Appalachian Trail int he Smoky Mountains. Take in the terrain and the sights and the sounds of nature from the trails that make up the AT. Hike the most hiked portion of the trail and then you too can say that you hiked the AT!

Appalachian Trail – A History

Appalachian Trail

A History

The Appalachian Trail is one of the big draws for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Conceived in the 20s, this brain child of Benton MacKaye had the first section established in 1923 and now it is one of the three big trails in the United States. Starting in Georgia and ending in Maine, this 2,200 mile trek is one of the accomplishments that makes a Thru-Hiker drool. The first part of the Appalachia Trail starts in Northern Georgia inside the Smokies and the most hiked portion of the Appalachian Trail is the 1.7 miles that starts at the Newfound Gap Trailhead.

The Appalachian Trail, or AT as it had come to be known, was thought of by Benton MacKaye and fellow hiking enthusiasts in New England. They had been kicking around the idea of a national trail, an eastern trail that would cover the beauty of the Appalachian mountains for years. Trail blazing started in the north, with trees and trails being emblazoned with the familiar diamond shaped logo that still marks trails to this day. As the years progressed people got more and more into the idea of a trail that covered most of the Appalachians. Eventually this movement culminated in the idea that the trail would stretch from Georgia to Maine. The AT grew in both fame and length as the years went on until it reached its current length of 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt Katahdin in Maine.

Since the establishment of the AT, not only has the trail received national attention but it has received national funding too. A national Appalachian Trail Conference was established in the 30s, which later became the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. This organization helps to track the number of people that are hiking the AT each year and also spends time making sure that the trail stays maintained and usable by guests. Maintaining over 2,000 miles of trails is a huge undertaking but one that the AT Conservancy delights in. Along with this, they provide tools and resources for Thru-Hikers, those people that take the time to hike from Georgia to Maine, a trip that might take 5-7 months depending on how many miles you are hiking a day.

Thru-Hikers make up a huge number of the people that hike the AT each year. These Thru-Hikers depend on the people that visit the area and the locals alike to keep them going as they cover the miles. The people that hike the trails, especially the Thru-Hikers find themselves at the mercy of the elements and the conditions on the trails. The brief respite that they get are jaunts into town in the back of a pickup to pick up supplies and get a break from the rigors of the trail. They are hiking history on the AT. They are covering the ground that was hiked by the frontiersmen, pioneers and the Native American people that inherited the land before white settlers arrived. As Thru-Hikers make their way from Georgia toe Maine, or from Maine to Georgia, they pass through some of the most beautiful land that the country has to offer – the Smokies, the Blue Ridge the Shenandoah Valley and of course through the gorgeous landscape that is all of New England.

Getting Ready to Hike

So you have decided to go hiking for the first time in the Smokies. Congratulations! Now, next comes what do you need to take with you when you start your first hike in the Smokies?

We are going to start with the idea that you are planning a day long hike. Not a simple jaunt into the woods for a few hours but a trip down one of the trails that might take you most of the day to complete. In fact, let us assume that your hike is going to be around 8 miles, round trip, and you are giving yourself 8 hours to complete it (more on this later).

Your Feet
One of the most important things you can do, to make sure that you have a fun day hiking, is make sure that you have good shoes to protect your feet. This is vital, if you are a hiker, you know that your feet are going to keep you going. If you are not a hiker, you will soon learn that the proper foot wear is going to make your trek into the woods a lot more enjoyable. If you are going to be climbing in elevation, crossing rough terrain or if you are going to have to go along a trail that is not as cared for as some, get a pair of boots. Keep your ankles healthy, keep the soles of your feet happy and your feet will treat you well in return.

Food and Water
You are going to be on the trail for 8 hours. You will need water, you will need food. Pack something easy to eat while you are on the trail. Sandwiches, peanut butter, trail mix (pun intended), anything easy to eat. You also want to take food items that have plenty of protein and carbs. You will need the energy that these foods provide to get you up and down the trail. Water is also a necessity. Take enough to get you to the destination on the trail and back. You will feel very bad having consumed all of your water on the way in and not having any to drink on the way back to the trailhead. And remember, as with all things in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park “Leave No Trace” – pack out what you take in.

Elevation
If you are not used to the elevation, keep in mind that the elevation change is going to effect you. The air gets thinner the more elevation you gain and the harder it is going to be to get the air you need to finish your hike. Take your time and plan for short breaks to catch your breath. If you find that you are ‘sucking wind,’ don’t get alarmed – this is normal.

Time
Plan for plenty of time on the trail. When you talk to a Park Ranger, they are going to tell you to plan to average 1 mile each hour. Certainly experienced hikers will realize that they can average a much quicker pace but if this is your first long hike, 1 mile an hour is about right. Plan ahead. Don’t assume because it is an 8 mile round trip that you are going to make the journey in 3 hours. Give yourself plenty of time.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of things you need when you go hiking but it is a place to start. Stop by one of the outfitters in the area or the ranger stations and check with them. See what they recommend for the hike you are taking.

Newfound Gap Road Re-Opens Early Following January Landslide

Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) which runs from Gatlinburg to Cherokee, NC reopened Monday, April 15 2013 following a three month closure. The road was closed due to a January landslide that washed away a 200-foot section of pavement.

Work on the road was actually completed a month ahead of time, and as a reward for finishing the job early, contractors Phillips and Jordan Inc. will receive a $500,000 bonus, funded by the National Park Service and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

The contract awarded to Phillips & Jordan, Inc. in January, totaled nearly $4 million and included incentives totaling $8,000 per day that the project was completed ahead of the May deadline.

In re-constructing the damaged section of Newfound Gap Road, engineers installed pipes to allow for the drainage of subsurface water flow along with side drainage leading to a culvert at the end of the slope.

Heavy rainfall and an underground stream combined to loosen thousands of tons of rock, soil and trees in January. It was estimated that 9,000 dump truck-loads of dirt, rock and road slid 45 feet down the side of the mountain.

A subsurface spring underneath the road was believed to be the mitigating factor for the landslide, in addition to the heavy rain that had poured over the area for a number of days. Between Monday and Wednesday the week of January 14, nearly 8 inches of rain were said to have fallen in the area.